Donald R. Norris

While I was born in the Bay State, I grew up in metropolitan New York, during which impressionable time I learned English with a definite Joisey accent. But college (Tufts) taught me how beautiful living in the New England can be, so we bought a home in Melrose and spent the next half century trying to learn the local accent. It is an impossible job, for the language here is unique.

I did, however, attend MHS for two years, got a degree from Tufts (thanks to a sympathetic economics professor) and went on to a productive adult life in the world of journalism. First job out of the Marine Corps was as a writer for the local Free Press -- back when the Schueler family owned and ran the paper. I stayed there eleven years in several capacities, both in the news and the advertising departments.

We spent a year with the Wakefield Daily Item, then got into a couple of racing magazines, and finally spent our entire energies in setting up and running a portfolio in the stock market. It has been a good life.

I was a charter member of many local endeavors, always took part in civic affairs, always took a keen interest in this community. I was a charter member of the Friends of the Library, and later spent ten delightful years on the Library's board of trustees, during which time (I must say) the staff and trustees caused the library to grow considerably in stature and services.

In other parts of our lives, Lorry and I have lived in many other places in the country, and we have been tempted many times by some distant, special towns. During our young years we lived in Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Puerto Rico -- even Ohio-- and spent much more time investigating our country's four corners. But somehow, we always came back here to Melrose.

We settled here, raised our kids here, worked here and now we have retired here. It is a good town, a good place to be from, and a good place to live.I also enjoy painting.